In Lake Lugano, Satoshi Nakamoto Statue Recovered Amid Vandalism

- A statue of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto was recovered from Lake Lugano following suspected vandalism. - The incident prompted a petition for restoration and a reward offer from the Satoshigallery collective. On August 3, 2025, a statue honoring Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, was recovered from Lake Lugano in Switzerland after being removed from its display in Parco Ciani. On August 3, The Block and Cointelegraph reported that the artwork was found in several pieces, which suggests the statue was vandalized rather than stolen. Italian artist Valentina Picozzi designed the statue, which featured a unique see-through effect to symbolize Nakamoto’s anonymity. The Satoshigallery collective installed the artwork as part of a global project that aims to place similar statues in 21 locations worldwide and has already completed installations in El Salvador and Japan. Following the incident, Satoshigallery announced a reward of 0.1 BTC, valued at over $11,000, for information leading to the statue's recovery. Although the artwork has since been found, it is unclear if the reward will be distributed. The event provoked strong reactions from the cryptocurrency community, leading to a petition on Change.org that calls for the statue’s restoration and safe reinstallation. In response, the artist and Satoshigallery have committed to remaking the statue if its secure display can be guaranteed. Meanwhile, prominent individuals, such as Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, supported the petition on social media. In a defiant statement on August 3, Satoshigallery declared, “You can steal our symbol, but you will never be able to steal our souls.” As of 19:16 UTC on August 3, market data showed Bitcoin (BTC) trading at $114,412.75. This price marked a 2.1% increase in its 24-hour trading volume.